Chasing Babies... Growing in Grace

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Nutrition for Toddlers: Little Sammy Part 2

A day or so after my previous correspondence with "Sammy's Mom", she shared with me what their day was like... food wise anyway. Again, I've abridged it for space reasons...

Dear Babychaser,

Today, I gave him a bottle when he woke up (5 ounces of milk with 2 scoops of baby cereal mixed in). I know I need to stop the morning bottle, but it takes me a while to get breakfast and everything ready (I am not a morning person, though I am learning) and I always feel like I need to give him something as soon as he wakes up. About an hour later I tried to give him homemade oatmeal but he refused it without even trying it. I think I need to work on my oatmeal, I mean, I couldn't eat it either. It was too dry. Because I was already frustrated, I tried giving him a Gerber baby food Stage 3 (Oatmeal, Pears and Cinnamon). He ate half the jar. I gave him 4 pieces of watermelon and he ate 2. I gave him water and let him go.

I think at this stage, he dislikes being at the high chair even more that he dislikes being hungry (if he's ever hungry).

For a snack, I gave 1/3 cup of Cheerios and another bottle of milk (with the baby cereal). He drank 4 ounces.

For lunch, I gave him a grilled cheese sandwich made with 1/2 slice of whole wheat bread but I think he must have eaten 1/4 of it. I gave him broccoli with cheese sauce and I can say he ate 1/4 to 1/2 cup of it. This time I gave him 100% Juice White Grape. He drank 4 ounces.

For the afternoon snack I gave him yogurt. For dinner, I tried giving him one of those Gerber Graduates toddler food. It was Creamy Chicken and Vegetables but he only ate 3 or 4 spoonfuls.

Then before bed, he drank 6 ounces of milk (with the baby cereal again).

Thanks,

Sammy's Mom

Hi Sammy's Mom!

Thanks for sharing your day with me. I’m off to bed shortly, but I wanted to send a quick note. :)

You didn’t ask, so at the risk of helping when you weren’t wanting me to (*smile*), I have a couple little thoughts for you. Please feel free to take them or leave them!

I am wondering if the reason he won’t eat much breakfast is because of the cup of milk/cereal. One of the things I do to keep my little one happy while waiting for “real” breakfast (or for me to be ready to feed it to him) is give him a banana (he eats it whole, I just take the peel off). I don’t know if your son likes bananas or not, but perhaps you can sub some other fruit. Even canned fruit or fruit cocktail (in pear juice not syrup) may be an option. Even a few whole grain crackers could tide him over and give him the added fiber! :) If you set up this “snack” before going to bed at night, you won’t even have to think about it in the morning when you’re still tired!

I’m not sure what you do with your oatmeal, but we often have that for breakfast. I add to it a bit (few tablespoons or more as needed) of no sugar added applesauce and sometimes a shake of cinnamon. The applesauce will add some moisture back in if yours it too dry, not to mention add the sweetness and nutrients of yet another fruit (in addition to the banana or whatever). Yey… already two fruit servings in your day! :) I’d recommend giving him ½ cup or so of milk in a sippy cup with the oatmeal… just to see if he’ll take it and drink along with the meal instead of first when he’s really thirsty.

Use “high chair time” for the most nutrient dense things since he doesn’t seem to want to be there. Take advantage of what little hunger he may actually have by feeding him the best foods first… fillers and drinks and such at the end! :)

Is there a reason you are adding the baby cereal to the milk? I did this with my first when he was young because he wasn’t keeping anything down and we were trying to get the calories in any way we could (Doctor's orders), but there are quite a few calories in that stuff. I wonder if he’s never hungry because he is already getting so many calories through that. If a doctor has suggested it, I’d talk to them first. But perhaps you want to try *not* adding it for a few days and see what happens to the rest of the food.

Also, again, I recommend diluting the juice some. The number of nutrients that make it through the pasteurization process isn’t enough to balance even the natural sugars he’s getting and number of calories. One ounce juice to 7 ounces water is probably fine. I really never give juice to my 16 month old except to add a splash of flavor when he sees his sister and brother having it (even then the older ones only get that splash unless it’s OJ). Otherwise it’s milk or water.

Does your son need that extra bottle before bed? Maybe he does. I was able to nurse my son until just after he was a year old, and when I weaned him, that night time milk went out the window. Again… I’m not talking from education, just wondering.

Well, that was more than I expected to say. Sorry for the long note. I’m excited to hear how passionate you are about setting things straight! :) Keep in mind as you experiment with all this that some kids don’t need as many calories as others. A lot depends on metabolism and activity levels. If he’s one of those that doesn’t eat as much, watch those calories carefully and keep it to the most important things! :)

Blessings,

Babychaser

So there you have it... anyone else have some ideas??? Feel free to send in your own questions. I'm far from all knowing on this stuff... but I'm happy to share my insights and brainstorms with you!

Labels: Nutrition for Toddlers

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Nutrition for Toddlers: Little Sammy

It's been a long while since I've done a Nutrition for Toddlers post. A long time! To be honest, life changed. I have more babies... and older kids. Spending time posting about toddler nutrition had to fight with all the other fun things to post about. And the other things won. Sorry!

But I have received email and more email about these posts and my menus over the years... and those menu posts remain, to this day, my most hit and popular posts of all time! I have a handful of posts I wish were the most popular... but alas, the people call for toddler nutrition and menus.

Well just this weekend, I received another one of those emails. (I love emails!!!) And I thought I'd share it, and my response, with you. I'll be editing both... and the names are being changed for privacy reasons. Keep in mind that this is my answer to this one mom, but I know she's not the only one out there who struggle with this or my menus wouldn't be so popular!! This is how I would try to address some of the concerns she brings up. So here we go...

Dear Babychaser,

I came across your blog while looking for sample menus for my toddler. I have found your information very useful, even if it's dated back to 2008.

I am going desperate because I don't think my 16 month old is getting proper nutrition. Do you ahve any other information, printables, charts or whatever that can help me?

(and from another email...)

He loves french fries and juice! That's about it. He refuses most meals and he's even refusing milk. He was on formula, then on toddler formula and I started him on whole milk last week but he doesn't seem to like it at all.

I am definitely going to implement most of your suggestions (I especially loved the "15" rule).... I am a single mom and I'm really beating myself over this all the time.... I am thankful for your fast response and I'll be grateful for all the help you can give me. I wish I had more information to give you but the truth is, I haven't tried hard enough. I relied on the formula. Now that there's no formula, I've realized my mistake and I'm willing to make it all right.

~Sammy's Mom

Now, again, I've changed names and I've left out parts of the email to keep this from being too long. :)
And I must take a moment here to mention that I am not a medical professional or nutritionist... just a mom who has been down this road a few times. Please consult your own doctor or nutritionist if you feel there is a problem with your child's nutrition!!!

That said, here's what I have to say in response:

Let's start with the french fries: This may take more time than you are used to (depending on what sort of fries he's used to), but I'm going to suggest making a bridge (like I mentioned in my 8 strategies posts) starting with the fries. Instead of fast food or frozen fries, try making your own from fresh potatoes. Season the way he's used to for starters (then maybe you can reduce salt, etc. a little at a time later on) but use a healthier oil or bake them. Try to get them to look the same (steak fries or stick like or whatever). If he'l eat those, make another change. Try sweet potato fries (similar texture and shape) next. Same shape. Before serving them for a meal, try putting them out as a snack... or eat them yourself and share when he shows interest. Be very no pressure!!!! Make enough for a few days of this at least and just keep munching on them yourself if he doesn't seem to like them. Once he eats this, try something crazy, but still a bridge... maybe carrot sticks (similar shape and color and cooked so they are soft). If he is used to dipping fries in ketchup, offer the ketchup with the soft carrot sticks. If he won't eat them at first, offer dip of some kind whether he's used to it or not. See if you can think of other bridges from here, or in place of the others if they don't seem to work (bread cut into stick shapes, etc). Keep in mind though that rule of 15!
Now for the juice: I don't know which juice he is used to drinking, but if it's a sugary one, your first switch could be moving to a juice that is all fruit juice. A great second step would be beginning to dilute the juice. If he's used to straight juice, begin by giving him 3/4 juice to 1/4 water. Next day with a bit more water... third day even more water and less juice. It may take a week or two (or more depending on your son) but try to get down to as little juice as possible. We've gotten to a place where we get them a cup of water, then add a splash of juice... enough to give color and a hint of flavor, but no more. Reducing the juice intake (though still getting water into him) will reduce the number of calories he gets from the juice. This (hopefully) should help him to be hungry enough to be willing to try some different foods.
A thought about the milk: Again, I don't know what you've tried already, but have you offered it warm? Cold? We made the change from a bottle (for my first) to a sippy cup at the same time we switched from formula to milk. Maybe a different cup would help. If you did this already, maybe he would take it in a bottle (though I'd try to get away from bottle when you can for the dental reasons, but let's take one thing at a time.) You may even think about helping him to drink it out of one of your cups.
One more thing: Try to get the most nutrition out of every bite you can get into him (whole grain breads, etc). If he's going to be a picky eater, try to be selective about what you offer. Reduce or remove sugary foods and drinks completely so he'll be hungry for more healthful foods. Other empty calories like white bread can also fill him without giving nutrients.

There are so many other things I could say (as you all know, I'm a talker!!), but I don't want to overwhelm you any more than I already have.

I do want to say this though... Please don't be too hard on yourself. Parenting is hard (as is life!), and we make "mistakes" all the time. And I'm sure this is especially hard as a single mom. Less time, less money, etc. All we can do is move forward and keep doing our best. I will assure you though, that you are not alone in this. God can and will help you with this (and everything else in life) if you ask Him. I'd love to point you in the right direction if you have any questions.

And I'd love to know how all this goes. Please keep me posted... or feel free to come for more ideas if these don't seem to work. I'm willing to try brainstorming more ideas.

I hope all this helps... I'm emotionally involved now and I'll be praying for you and your son as you work to make menus and try some new ideas!

Many blessings,
Babychaser

P.S. My toddler likes the same chewable vitamins my 3 and 4 year old take each night with dinner. If he'll eat them (or other sort of vitamin), that can help with vitamins and such that you worry about until you feel more confident, or even after. My kids take them (as do we.)

__________________

Well... that's was my response. And I'm glad to say that I heard back again from her with some more detail. So stay tuned for another post following up and adding more ideas!

Anyone else have any ideas for Sammy's mom??? Have you ever been in her shoes? Feel free to share some encouraging words with her! :)

Labels: Nutrition for Toddlers

Thursday, December 11, 2008

A 2 Year Old Look at Nutrition and Serving Sizes

Now that Tornado is 2, I find myself wondering what, if any, changes I need to make in his diet. We've taken some time to look at nutrition for young toddlers (though not as much as I intended), but what about now? I found the following at Wholesome Toddler Food. Check out their site... it's full of info!

What is Considered a Serving Size for a Toddler?

A good rule for serving sizes for toddlers is the following::

1 tablespoon per year of age or

1/4 of an adult serving per year of age!

At the next meal, use these measurements exactly and see for yourself how little food a Toddler should actually be eating. We bet you will be quite surprised!

How Much Should I Try to Have my Toddler Eat per Day?

When planning and serving meals to your toddler, try to have him/or her consume the following on a daily basis

2 to 3 cups of calcium - milk (or yogurt, cheese or other calcium rich foods).

4 servings of fruits and vegetables. (Serving size: one tablespoon per year of age.) One serving should be high in vitamin C and another in vitamin A.

4 servings of grains - bread and cereal. One should be an iron-fortified baby cereal. A serving is about 1/4 to 1/3 an adult portion (1/4 slice toast, 1/4 cup pasta).

2 servings of proteins - meat, beans, eggs, tofu, or peanut butter. A good serving of protein should be served at every meal. One serving equals 1/2 ounce. Courtesy of Parent'sPlace Nutritionist Q&A.

Hope this is helpful! Now I guess we're doing 2 tablespoons for each serving! :)

Labels: In the Kitchen, Nutrition for Toddlers

Monday, July 28, 2008

Low on sleep... and my sample toddler menu

Does anyone have an answer for why a 4 1/2 month old adorable little girl who does pretty well at sleeping through the night most of the time would wake up screaming until I fed her 3-4 times last night??? Let's see... I fed her at 9:30 before we went to bed... then she was up at 1, but I didn't feed her (aparently I should have but she wakes up around then a lot and just goes back to sleep), then at 2 she demanded to be fed, then at 4:30 ish or 5, then she was up around 7:30 or 8. My Beloved and I are walking zombies this morning and, of course, she is sleeping! I'll be watching how much sleep she gets between feedings today. I wouldn't want to go back to those early confused about night and day weeks! :)

I hear Tornado now, so I'm off to get him up. Here is this week's toddler menu. Last week was pretty much a flop. I hope you got something out of it, but I either forgot parts or didn't have what I needed. I made 3 loaves of bread one of the days because none of them worked. Still I had to make a working loaf the next day. I haven't had as much trouble with food in a long time as I did this last week. I'm hoping for a smoother week to come! :)

I think the trick will be looking ahead and actually doing the preparation for meals... instead of the whole "oops, I was supposed to make Mac and Cheese, but now there's no time. Now what?" approach. :)

By the way... be back later for my bloggy giveaway! :)

Labels: As it happens..., Nutrition for Toddlers

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Nutrition for Toddlers: Summer Foods Edition!

It's been a long time since I've had a Nutrition for Toddlers post. I've missed doing them (as I don't do the research for myself unless I am doing it for you), and have been making plans to "get down to the dirt", if I may use that highly appropriate pun here, on some of the fun summer produce we have available to us during these wonderful months!

Today I would like to focus on watermelon. Perhaps you are all more educated than I... or simply have more common sense, but My Beloved and I were talking about watermelon a couple weeks ago and pretty much figured it was just a tasty treat, but lacking in anything especially nutritious. What was I thinking??? I don't think there is anything that grows out of the ground that isn't nutritious.

Now, my new question is this, is it possible that people are generally sicker in the winter months because summer has so many fruits RICH in vitamin C??? Seriously! One cup of watermelon has 25% our daily need for vitamin C... and that's for an adult. I'm pretty sure that means that same cup of watermelon just about fulfills the requirement for our 1 year olds!

Some other nutrients you find a lot of in watermelon?

Vitamin A
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
Vitamin B1 (thiamin)
Potassium
Magnesium

These all range from being excellent sources (at the top of the list) to being good sources (bottom of the list.)

So now when you open up that watermelon and let your kids go wild, you can know that you are "giving in" to a nutritious snack... not to mention all the water they are getting from it!

Your toddler isn't quite sure about watermelon yet??? Don't despair, mine isn't either. Just give him time! Check out the rule of fifteen and some other strategies... just keep it available, let them see you enjoying it and don't force it! Your little one may be gobbling it down before summer is gone!

Find more kitchen tips here!

Labels: Nutrition for Toddlers

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Getting MY Toddler to Eat

Ok... this is going to make some of you more experienced mommies chuckle a little bit, but please, for my sake, do it so I can't hear you. I'm running on low levels of sleep and may take things a little too seriously!

In the last couple weeks (beginning right around the time our little girl was born ~ related??? I don't know) I have been going mad at meal times. Yes... I am the same Babychaser who brought to you the 8 strategies on how to get your toddler to eat, but things haven't been going well! I've found myself saying and doing things I swore I'd never do... right down to letting myself get frustrated. Ok... I take into consideration that I'm tired and therefore less flexible in general, but still.

So... DS won't eat. He liked it yesterday, but today, not so much. I find myself working very hard not to make rules I don't want to enforce (i.e. just one more bite, eat your fruit, you HAVE to eat this first). I don't want to start those food wars. Most likely, he will get through this little food fickle faze (ok... I know that phase is spelled with a "ph", but I had to go with the "f" this time... and you may as well use a "z" when you are deliberately spelling something wrong!) without my threatening his life. He did it again last night... just didn't want to eat. So I let him not eat. He was plenty ready for breakfast this morning!

Ok... so my Works for Me Wednesday tip! Sometime early last week, we were having one of our troubling (read: frustrating) meal times and I just kept hearing all my advice on getting toddlers to eat roll through my head. I was feeling pretty lame! He would not eat, except occasionally from my fork. Then he stopped eating from my fork. He was pushing it away (a behavior issue we are working on) and often getting it on me or the floor (not ok in our home). Before doing anything that would not have been becoming of the Proverbs 31 woman (you know... the one who has kindness on her tongue), I gave up and gave the child a fork!

Now, let me tell you... I've been wondering when my toddler would be ready to start using silverware. I have almost asked you all several times for your advice. Apparently he's ready! He ate his whole meal with that fork. It took longer, sure... he isn't real coordinated with that fork. I help sometimes, and sometimes I let him battle it out. Sometimes he holds the fork in one hand and shoves food in with the other.

What am I saying??? If you have tried everything and can't get your toddler to eat, try giving him the fork and letting him try it for himself! Just don't go far... those forks can be dangerous! :) Hey, it's working for us!

Labels: In the Kitchen, Nutrition for Toddlers, Passing it On

Monday, March 3, 2008

Toddler Menu ~ A sample menu and a "How to" for creating your own!

It's Monday again, and with the advent of a new week, I bring you our toddler menu! :) Find the rest of them here. I've got to tell you that I've been struggling to keep our grocery budget on budget these past few weeks and I'm not even sure why. I was also struggling for ideas this week, so I too visited my past week's menus and put together this weeks schedule of meals! :)

I am wondering if any of you are still struggling to create your own complete menu for your little ones, so I thought I would share a quick how to. If you are short on time or just impatient to see what you can feed your children this week, feel free to skip on down to the menu! :) No hard feelings. ;)

How I plan our menus:

start with dinners: I try to assess what we already have on hand (sometimes even which meals I skipped from last weeks plan). I then go through the sales ad for our grocery store and pull out any coupons I have as well. I try to choose a favorite or two of my husbands and then fill in with variety. (i.e. he is going to be excited about the steak and meatballs this week... then I filled in with other things like pizza and fish... usually there would be a chicken meal in there too.)
fill in the day time meals to create balance: Once I know everything we are eating for dinners... right down to the side dishes, I can fill in the rest of each day. I take a look at which veggies I'm serving and whether there is bread, or more or less protein in a given meal. I then spread out the rest of the "food pyramid" across the day and week.

This does take some time, and it isn't always easy, but I find that with practice it is getting easier. Keep a handy reference of what your little one needs to eat and how much of it so you can compare... eventually this will be second nature. :)

I hope this helps you to create your own menu... but if it's just easier to follow mine, here it is. :) Enjoy!

Want a printable copy??? Email me at babychaser (at) gmail.com.

For more family dinner ideas, try MPM!

Labels: Nutrition for Toddlers, Toddler Menus

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Chasing Babies... Growing in Grace

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Nutrition for Toddlers: Little Sammy Part 2

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Nutrition for Toddlers: Little Sammy

Thursday, December 11, 2008

A 2 Year Old Look at Nutrition and Serving Sizes

Monday, July 28, 2008

Low on sleep... and my sample toddler menu

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Nutrition for Toddlers: Summer Foods Edition!

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Getting MY Toddler to Eat

Monday, March 3, 2008

Toddler Menu ~ A sample menu and a "How to" for creating your own!

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